School-desk.



No- 841,766. PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907.

'L. H.0AMPBELL.

SOHOOL'DESK.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 11,1906.

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No. 841,766. PATENTED JAN, 22, 1907.

L. H. CAMPBELL.

SCHOOL DESK.

APPLIOATIONII'ILED JUNE 11'.19oe.

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LEONARD. H. CAMPBELLOF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

SCHOOL-DESK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22,1907.

Application filed June11,1906. Serial No. 321,180.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEONARD H; CAMPBELL,

' a citizen of the United States, residingat I rear.

tion.

Providence, in the county of Providence and State Of RhOde Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in School- "Desks, of which the following is a specifica tion, reference being had therein to-the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 5 is a'view of the same with the cover. raised to an angular position'inclined away from the pupil.

Fig. 6 is a view of the same with the cover elevated and supported in a horizontal posi- Fig. 7 is a view of a body of the desk as seen part y in topplan andpartly in section on line-a awof Fig. 8.

Fig. 4 is a view of thesainev with the cover raisedto an angular position inclined toward the pupil.

ortion of the- Fig. 8 is a view of the body of the desk and of its cover shown in the position illustrated in Fig. 6 as seen on line b b of Fig. 7.

In this? figure one of the pivoted braces and also one of the slottedflanges are shown in elevationq Fig. 9 is a detail view seen on line 0 c of Fig. 8 and illustrates the manner .of mounting andi securing saidslotted flange upon the desk--;

cover. rack and pinion for varying the height of the desk. Fig. 11 is a-sectional view of the same as seen on line (i d of Fig. 10. perspectiveview of the crank-rod and han-;. dle for operating said rack and pinion.

Fig. 12 is a Fig. 10 is a view in'elevation of the} .My invention relates to school-desks; and} itconsists ofthe novel and useful-combina-g tion of :the several parts or elements ashereinafter described, and specifically set forth in;

the claims.

The purpose of my invention is to con-f 'struct a school-desk in conformity to the principles of school hygiene andso that it.

shall be not only-convenient and comfort-i :able for the pupil, but favorable to his phySi-j. cal development and conducive to rhis health. 1

To carry these objects into. effect my imspects.

proved desk is made adjustable in-several re-; It has means for variation in height. The cover ismovable at will in its owniplane.

to each of:several positions to enable its edge adjacent to-the pupil to be as near -.to him or as. far from him as his girth or then'ature of his work-requires,'.and'tl1e cover is also made capable of assuming severalangular positions and of maintainingthesameimmovably while inpro'per adjustmenttherefor, respectively.

In the drawings, l represents the'body or box portion of my improved school-desk, and 2 is the top or cover. The cover 2 may. have the ledge 3 andthe trays 4 for pencils and penholders at or near the rear edge. :may also be provided an ink-well orbottle 5, preferably of a suitable non-spillable sort, which, however, constitutes'no part of the present invention.

The body or box .portion of 'thedesk-is .mounted upon two vertical supports 6 6, which have roper brackets 7 7. Eachof these vertica supports has a longitudinal opening orslot 8. There are two standards 9 9, each'having twolegs or feet 10 10, by which they rest upon and'may be secured to the floor. Each vertical support 6 has a rack-gear .11, and each standard 9 has a pinion 12, mounted in a tubular hole or bearingthereof, the engagement and method of operation of which rack-gears and pinions will be hereinafter described.

The desk-cover 2 has oneach of its two sides, about midway the length thereoffrom front to rear, a flange'or wing 13, 'madeof sheetmetal or a metallic casting, but preferably of sheet steel. This flange orwing is "preferably rectangular in outline and has an approximately V-shaped slot 14, the upper portionof which slot is substantially parallel to the u perand'lower surfaces of'the cover 2. In ifhe upper or horizontal portion of i said slot 14 are the-semicircular socketsor seats 15,16, and 17, and inthe lowenportion of said slot is one semicircular socket or seat 18. (Shown in Fig. 8.) These flanges or wings'may'be securedtozthecover 2 in any manner'desired; but I refer the construc- :tion shown in Fig. 9, w ere theflange 13 is provided with an angle or bend 19, which =is'perforated for the passageof a headed "bolt 20.

A socket, preferably circular, is Imade in (the cover .2 and extends a little more than halfway through it. :In the bottomof'the soc-ketisa washer .21, of metal orother suitablematerial. The bolt 20 passes through a hole in the cover made therefor and also There through the washer 21. A nut 22 is screwed upon the end of the bolt 20. A wooden plug 23 is ins'erted'and secured by glue or otherwise in the socket of the cover, the outer edge of which plug is flush with the top surface of the desk-cover, as shown in Fig. 91"

There are preferably two of these bolts or fastenings, as seen in Fig. 8.

On each side of the body or boX portion of the desk and within the same is a strip 24,. parallel with said side and properly secured in place, leaving a vertical opening or passage 25, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7. In-

stead, however, of making this passage by through the slot 14 of the flange 13, and the washer 29 is of such circumference as to en able it to engage with and be-seated in any of the semicircular sockets or seats 15, 16, 17, or 18 of the slot 14 of the flange 13. Bracesv 3O aremounted on screws or pivots 31, re' spectively, at opposite sides within the boX portion of the desk nearest the pupil.

At or near the upper end of each standard: 9 a pinion l2zisrotatably mounted by its hub in a suitable bearing. It has a bore which is The teeth of the; pinion 12 are engaged with the teeth of the rack-gear 11. A crank-rod 32 is rectangular in cross-section and fits slidably in the square rectangular crosswise.

bore of the pinion 12. This rod.32 is of sufflcient length to pass through and engage with both the pinions 12 and to project therefrom at one end, the length of-said rod thus exceeding the distance fromone standard 9 to the other. The rod 32 has at one end a detachably-mounted'crank-handle 33. The hub of the pinion 12 passes through the opening or slot 8 of the support 6, and the end of the hub of said pinion projects beyond the face of the standard 9, as seen in Fig. 11. This hub is screw-threaded at its end. A clamping-nut 34 fits upon the threaded end of the hub.

The use and operation of my improved desk are as follows: To change the vertical adjustment for the purpose of securing a variation in height, the rod 32 is inserted through the square bores of the two pinions 12, the clamping-nuts 34 are then partially unscrewed, and by means of the handle 33 the pinions 12 are rotated together in the same direction, either to raise or lower the desk to the desired height. By the rotation of the pinions 12'the supports 6 6 slide along the standards 9 9, up or down, according to sitting posture.

The strip 24 has about.

"then tightened, and thus hold the parts securely in the adjusted position, whereupon the rod 32 is withdrawn from the pinion 12 and is carried away until required for use again. If the rod 32 were left in position, it would be in-the way of the pupil when in The cover 2 of. the desk is movable in its own plane to any one of the three positions illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, or 3 to bring the edge as near or as far from the pupil as his size or work requires. This depends upon the engagement of the screws 28 and their bushings or washers 29 in the upper sockets of the slots 14 of the flanges 13. When said screws and washers are seated in the sockets 15, the cover 2 is in the position shown in Fig. 1. WVhen they are in the socket 16, the cover is in the position shown in Fig. 2, and when they are in the socket 17 the cover is in the position shown in Fig. 3. To effect these changes in the position of the cover, the cover 2 is seized sidewise and slightly lifted, thus raising the flanges 13 and disengaging the screws 28 and washers 29 from whichever of the sockets 15, 16, or 17' thereof they have previously engaged. By pushing or pulling the cover in the desired direction, as the case may be, said flanges slide along by the straight upper edges of the horizontal portions of the slots 14 upon the washers 29 of the screws 28 until said washers automatically, by the weight of the cover 2, engage with the next sockets of said flanges 13. In opening the desk this cover 2 is always brought to the position shown in Fig. 3, and then the front edge of the cover can be raised, as seen in Fig. 5. When the cover is in the position shown in Fig. 3, the washers 29 are engaged in the sockets 17 of the slots By elevating the for- Y 14 of the flanges 13. ward edge of the cover 2 the slotted flanges 13 move, by means of the diagonal portions of their slots 14, along the washers 29 respectively until said washers come into position in the lower ends of said diagonal portions of said slots and there become the pivots on which the cover 2 is swung to the position illustrated in Fig. 5. The pupil now has access to his desk to put his books and papers therein or to remove them, as he may desire. In order to bring the cover into the position shown in Fig. 4, the cover is brought to the position shown in Fig. 3 and is then seized on both sides near the rear and is slightly lifted and brought forward, with the edge toward the pupil depressed. By this movement the washers 29 move up along the diagonal portion of the slots 14. The position illustrated in Fig. 4 is that used for study and drawing. If instead of pushing or pulling the cover 2, as already described, he lifts the cover of the desk bodily, :the cover 2 will assume the horizontal position (shown in Fig. 6) and becomes a flat-topped table, in which case the braces 30 30 are elevated to support the end of the cover nearest the pupil. By-reversing these movements respectively the pupil can return the cover to the former respective positions. IVhen the cover is in the position shown in Fig. '6, the pupil stands in using the desk, andif he desires to raise or lower the desk he loosens the clamping-nuts34 and operatestherod 32, pinions 12, and rack-gears 11, as before; but in this case, as the rod 32 is not in his way because he is standing, it need not be removed, but may be left in place, and when so left .in place the nuts 34 need not be screwed up, but instead thereof the crank-handle 33 may bedetached from the rod 32 and put on again reverselythat is, with the free end of the handle 33 directed inwardly instead of outwardly, in which latter position said end of the crank-handle, coming into contact with the bracket 7 or some part of the supports 6 6, will bear against them, and so prevent the turning of the pinions 12 and the consequent descent of the rack-gears 11 and desk-body. Pupils can be easily taught the uses of this improved desk and to adjust the same in any of said positions without assistance. The desk by means of these various adjustments is brought into precisely the relations to the pupil which are most convenient and comfortable for him, where he can do his work under most favorable conditions, assume and maintain a bodily posture or position most favorable to health and his proper physical development and be free from temptation or need of assuming unhealthful and un-' hygienic positions or attitudes. The tilting of the cover for study or drawing, as shown in Fig. 4, tends to diminish eye strain and keeps the proper degree of inclination in drawing, which draftsmen and artists are al- 5 ways careful to maintain to assure accurate .work. By this improved construction the usual fixed hinges are entirely dispensed with, together with the fixed flat strip, which hitherto has necessarily constituted the rear a portion of the desk-cover. In this manner is secured a broader less broken working surface, although without actual increase of area. The former breaking or division of the surface is wholly avoided and also the ob 5 jectionable position of the ink-well. Size for size the working surface of this desk-cover as compared with those of the usual construction is increased about twenty per cent.

The use of the broad leather washers 27 o and the reinforcement thereof by the metallic washers 26 of the same diameter cause strong bearing-surfaces and pressure to prevent lateral movement or side play, thus confining the flanges to an absolutely straight 5 line of movement and preventing any rat- 'tling or noisein the operation of the flanges.

B ymeans of the screws 28the degree of this pressure may be adjusted and maintained.

Thev strips 24 serve to protect the-books and "papers within the desk from contact with the operative parts of the mechanism;

I claim as a novel and useful invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a school-desk, the combination of a desk-body, two pivots or pins mounted-inside the desk-body on opposite sides thereof,

a cover for said desk-body, and two flanges on the cover on opposite sides thereofprojecting into the desk-body and each having a V.-shaped slot whoseupper part is parallel to said cover, said flanges being provided with means for engaging the said pivots or pins respectively. I

2. In a sch ool-desk, the combination of a desk-body, two pivots or pins mounted inside the desk-body on opposite sides thereof, a cover for said desk-body, and two flanges on the cover on opposite sides thereof projecting into the deskbody and each having a V- shaped slot with locking-seats in said slots,

the upper portion of each of said slots being parallel to the top of said cover and said flanges being adapted by their slots and locking-seats to engage said pivots or pins respectively.

3. In a school-desk, the combination of a desk-body having the pivots 28, 28, in the sides thereof projecting inwardly, a cover for the desk-body having the two flanges 13, 13, each of which flanges is provided with an approximately V-shaped slot 14 and with locking-sockets 15, 16, 17 and 18, the upper part of each of said slots being parallel with the top of said cover, and a washer 29 on each pivot, which washers are adapted to be seated in any of the corresponding sockets of said flanges respectively.

4. In a school-desk, the combination of a desk-body, two pivots extending therefrom inwardly, a cover for said desk-body having on each of two opposite sides thereof acircular socket with a central perforation through the bottom thereof, a locking-flange on each side of said cover adapted to engage with said pivots respectively and having an integral bend or angle-piece with a perforation through it, a washer in the bottom of each of said sockets, a headed bolt passing through said perforated bend or anglc-piece and cover perforation and washer into each of said sockets, a nut on the end of each of said bolts, and a wooden plug mounted in and filling each of said sockets.

5. In a school-desk, the combination of a desk-body, two pivots extending therefrom inwardly, a cover for the desk-body,two flanges on each of two opposite sides of the cover and adapted to engage with said pivots respectively, in slots thereof, a strip extending along each of two opposite sides of the desk-body parallel with the adjacent sides thereof to form a passage in which passages said flanges are inserted and movable, each of said strips being provided with a circular opening about midway the length thereof, a metallic Washer in each of said openings, a leather washer in each of said openings in contact with said metallic washer, and a washer on each of said pivots and in contact with the adjacent leather washer aforesaid, which pivot-washers are inserted loosely in the slots of said flanges respectively.

6. In a school-desk, the combination of a desk-body, two pivots 28, 28, extending therefrom inwardly on opposite sides, two

braces, 30, 30, pivotally mounted on the desk-body within the same, a cover for the desk-body, two flanges 13, 13, extending from the cover on opposite sides thereof, and having V-shaped slots 14, 14, which engage said pivots respectively, locking-sockets 17 18, on the edges of said slots, and a washer 29 on each of said pivots engageable at will with either the socket 17, or 18.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEONARD H. CAMPBELL. Witnesses:

WARREN R. PERCE, ANNIE E. PERCE. 

